West Park Community Center in Ventura is a great place for
boys and girls to take part in enrichment classes, homework and tutoring
programs, sports and special events. It now has its own brand new Water Wise
Demonstration Garden. Agromin donated
the compost.

Ready for turf removal

The compost arrives

In less than three days, volunteers transformed 1,000 square
feet of unused grassy area into a Water Wise Garden. Volunteers removed the
turf, rototilled compost into the soil, planted the garden and then placed
rocks and mulch around the garden to keep down weeds and hold in moisture. The
garden immediately began attracting Monarch caterpillars.

The garden shows how grass, which requires lots of water to
keep green, can be replaced with a beautiful, functioning low water usage
garden and landscape.

Rototilling compost into the soil

More and more cities are encouraging residents to remove
turf and plant a Water Wise Garden. For Ventura residents, go to: www.cityofventura.net/water/landscape
to learn more. Other Southern California residents can check out garden tips
and lawn replacement rebates at http://www.bewaterwise.com/.
Just about every water district in California has similar information and
offers.

Until the skies open up and we get a prolonged drenching, we
all need to do our part to cut back on water consumption. Planting a Water Wise Garden is a great start.